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The Tortured Artist

Novel writing is a grueling task, done in fits and starts whenever the pesky muse decides to strike. To make sense of this, here's a look at three authors who really took their time between books, and their average output.

Donna TarttLast book/date: The Secret History, 1992Next book: The Little Friend, out November 2002Years to write: 10Pages: 608Number of words written each day: 47

Jeffrey EugenidesLast book/date: The Virgin Suicides, 1993Next book: Middlesex, out September 2002Years to write: 9Pages: 532Number of words written each day: 45

Umberto EcoLast book/date: Island of the Day Before, 1994Next book: Baudolino, out October 2002Years to write: 8Pages: 496Number of words written each day: 48